Judge replacement policy bypassed

I am a 69-year-old retired citizen of Waukegan. I have read every copy of the local news for years. When a vacancy in an associate judge position is announced, many attorneys apply and then their names are generally published and a date deadline for public comment is published.

This was not done in the recent replacement of Judge Shanes, by James K. Simonian. Why? Can Supreme Court Rule 39 be ignored? Is Lake County exempt? Can we, the public, be bypassed? Apparently so.

This letter is my heartfelt and determined opinion that I am opposed to Mr. James K. Simonian being elevated to the position of associate judge.

Howard Petty McLaughlin

Waukegan